Editorial
Article Type: Editorial From: Ethnicity and Inequalities in Health and Social Care, Volume 7, Issue 3.
Robin Williams’ tragic death has cast a much-needed spotlight on issues of depression, suicide and mental health. However,there is a long way to go before mental health problems are not seen as a stigma. Dating as far back as 1991, the United Nations(UN) issued principles “For the protection of persons with Mental Illness” (GA Resolution 46/119). Therein, the international community made its promise: “All persons with a mental illness, or who are being treated as such persons, shall be treated with humanity and respect for the inherent dignity of the human person […] There shall be no discrimination on the grounds of mental illness […]”. Despite this promise, mental illness continues to be one of the most significant stigmatizing factors within our modern societies, while it is often the trigger for serious human rights violations. These may happen in psychiatric and other healthcare institutions through degrading, inadequate or even harmful care and treatment. They may also happen outside of institutions such as during the provision of social and other public services. This is primarily due to the misconception and myths surrounding mental disorders. More also needs to be done to understand the illness. Therefore, I was particularly pleased that three of the papers included in this edition aim to advance the international debate on mental health.
The first paper examines the association of psychological health and discrimination experiences among black and white graduate students at a southeastern university in the USA. Based on a sample size of 505 graduate students this is paper constitutes one of the few studies to focus on the mental health and discrimination experiences among a graduate student population. African-Americans have historically reported greater exposure to discrimination. We also know that they experience unfavourable outcomes associated with physical health, poverty concentration, residential segregation and poorer education. This paper provides evidence that the effects of discrimination are particularly harmful on mental health as discriminatory experiences contribute significantly to diminished mental health status and psychological distress. African-Americans pursuing graduate education may experience additional stressors, increasing the risk for poorer mental health.
The second paper takes a bold step in unravelling the connection between suicide and mental health by focusing on generating evidence for prevention and treatment. Using a qualitative methodology, the study worked with 22 Samoans (New Zealand) who had attempted suicide or had suicide ideation. This is a very niche and hard to reach group and the study is unique in its in-depth approach to the issue of suicide. The participants’ narratives are revealing in understanding the complexities surrounding this issue and how cultural awareness as well as family involvement and youth engagement can act as contributor factors for prevention. The paper reinforces the claim that suicide cannot solely be conceptualised through the lenses of western psychological,clinical or medical concepts. This conclusion also reinforces one of my own personal beliefs and indeed a central guiding principle for anyone championing human rights, i.e. in order to truly respond to the needs of someone in need, we must understand and accept them for who they are. The “sausage machine” that we often operate through our health and social care systems will fail their human rights targets if treatment is not provided as an individualised service and not as a “one size fits all”product (Gavrielides, 2011).
The third paper provides important insights and best practices on the provision of community-based mental health services to immigrant, older people. The paper uses research that was conducted with Punjabi immigrants in British Columbia (Canada),focusing on three key determinants: social inclusion, freedom from violence and discrimination, and access to economic resources and participation. The conclusions are revealing for researchers and practitioners internationally.
Based on an impressive study of 118,606 health-insured full-time workers from New York, the final paper looks at the correlation between mortality, ethnicity and education. Alarmingly, the research suggests that without reducing the disparity in higher education attainment between blacks and whites, equality in other socioeconomic factors may not abolish the disparity in mortality between these groups.
The Editorial team and I have taken an important decision to rename the journal to the “International Journal of Human Rights in Healthcare” with the first issue in 2015. The title change reflects the journal's new positive focus of promoting equality of treatment and access to health and social care, and also expands the scope of the journal to explicitly cover all aspects of potential discrimination (such as religion, ethnicity/race, geographic location, financial status, sexuality, gender, age, disability and mental health). Therefore, this issue is timely and a taster of what is to be expected from us.
To mark this change I am calling for papers for a special issue entitled Human Rights Revisited: Tackling Race Inequalities in Health and Social Care. We are interested in empirical research articles, case studies, viewpoint articles, review or literature review articles and conceptual articles, covering (but not limited to) the following topics:
mainstreaming human rights in health and social care services;
race equality as a human right in health and social care;
improving healthcare outcomes for minority groups through human rights;
mental health, race and human rights;
human rights in black and ethnic minority older people's health and social care; and
the black healthcare community sector and human rights.
Submissions must be received by 1 January 2014.
I want to take the opportunity and officially welcome our new Editorial Advisory Board consisting of international experts in our journal's areas. I am also recruiting individuals to carry out double-blind peer review. As an Emerald reviewer you will receive free online access to the journal for 12 months from the date that you start reviewing and you will automatically be considered for the Emerald Literati Network Awards for Excellence, Outstanding Reviewer category. Ideally, you will have at least one year's experience as a peer reviewer for an academic journal. If you are interested in joining the peer review panel, please send me copy of your CV at mailto:t.gavrielides@iars.org.uk.. Please include in the subject line of your email “Application for IJHRH Reviewer”.
Theo Gavrielides
Reference
Gavrielides, T. (2011), “Human rights in health and social care”, Ethnicity and Inequalities in Health and Social Care, Vol. 4 No. 1, pp. 28-38
About the Editor
Professor Theo Gavrielides is the Founder and Director of Independent Academic Research Studies (IARS), the Co-Director of the Restorative Justice for All institute (RJ4All), Adjunct Professor at the Centre for Restorative Justice of Simon Fraser University and a Visiting Professor at the Buckinghamshire New University.
